Well-Baby Care Topics

Well Baby Care Guide

Building confidence in caring for baby comes as the reward of successfully meeting your baby's needs. There is a lot to learn, a few basics to master, and instincts that you will learn to trust. The first few weeks with your newborn may seem frozen in time, like they have flown by, and as though you can't remember life before his arrival all at the same time. This is a time of getting to know one another that will last a lifetime. Within a few weeks, your dedication to listening to your baby and your intuition will make you an expert about your baby. The goal in care giving is to keep your baby safe and comfortable, and to use each experience to develop a bond that comes from the process of spending time close to one another.

Baby Safety

Support baby's head and neck with your hand or arm under his neck

Always buckle baby into rear facing infant seat secured in back seat

Never shake a baby for any reason. Infants are susceptible to "shaken baby syndrome" serious injury or death can occur as a result of being shaken.

Do not engage in physical or dangerous activities or cook with a baby in a carrier.

Never leave an infant seat unattended on an elevated surface such as a table or counter top.

Place baby on back or side for sleep on firm mattress without pillows, heavy blanket, or large stuffed toys.

Never take your hands or eyes off baby while on changing table.

The American Academy of Pediatrics stand on newborn nutrition is that a baby should be solely breast feed for the first 6 months of life. A baby has a digestive system that is not fully developed until about 9 months to a year. A baby doesn't start to take food until they start cutting teeth and can swallow without spitting it out of its mouth or chokes. Babies sometimes need to burp during feeding in order to expel air swallowed. There are several positions used for burping: Upright- with head cradled on your shoulder and his bottom resting on your forearm sitting on your lap facing to either side, lay baby on tummy, on your lap. Pat your baby's back gently for a few seconds while you steady him with other hand. See breastfeeding page.

Bathing the newborn may be an intimidating experience at first but can prove to be a favorite activity over time if you hang in there. Newborns will need to lose their umbilical cord stump before enjoying a tub bath. Sponge baths are an excellent introduction for both babies and parents.

Sponge Bath

Gather all supplies before starting bath- fill basin with warm water.

Undress baby and wrap him in towel on padded surface exposing only the area you are working with at one time.

Lay baby on stomach and wash his neck back and legs, rinse and pat dry.

Bundle baby in towel and hold using one arm to support head and neck. Cradle baby over basin to shampoo, rinse and pat dry with towel.

Remove diaper and wash diaper area (no soap on newly circumcised penis) Rinse with washcloth wiping front to back and pat dry.

Tub Baths

Gather supplies before starting water. Use small towel or bath sponge to prevent slipping. Add just a few inches of warm water.

Cradle baby and gently slide him into water supporting head with one hand or arm under neck. Do not move arm away while bathing.

Start with eyes as with sponge bath and work to diaper area.

Shampoo last and wrap in dry towel immediately.

Umbilical Cord Care

Your health care provider will typically advise you on cord care

Keep area around the umbilical cord stump clean and dry by wiping with a clean cotton swap. Use GoldenSeal™ salve for cord. Fold the diaper so that it does not rub or irritate the stump. Wait for tub bathing until cord falls off. Report signs of: bleeding, redness, discharge, swelling or odor to midwife.

Circumcision
Circumcision is the amputation of the newborn male penis. The foreskin of the penis is removed to expose the highly sensitive raw glands (head). This is an excruciatingly painful experience that comes with a long recovery time of sometimes over 6 months. Circumcision comes with many complications and needs to be considered a very invasive cosmetic surgery with no medical advantage. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, circumcision is considered an unnecessary procedure and most do not do it any longer. Insurance companies are no longer covering for the surgery.

Sites to visit before circumcision: www.nocirc.org or www.intact.org Also listen to my interview with Marilynn Milos on “Timely Topics in Childbirth” radio show achieves for more information.

Circumcision Care
Your doctor will discuss follow up care for circumcision after procedure is completed. The most important fact to remember is that tub bathing will need to wait until the circumcision is healed and the umbilical cord stump has fallen off. Special instruction will also be given with regard to diaper changes.

Sleep is a commodity when a newborn arrives. You can expect your newborn to sleep an average of 16 ½ hours per day at first with the need to feed every 2-3 hours. That number of hours decreases over the next few months and in a couple of months he may settle into a pattern of daytime naps and four to six hour stretches during the night…or not.

The atmosphere of comfort, bathing, and bedtime rituals such as soft music, lower lighting and rocking promise to provide enjoyment for both baby and parents. These are the moments that memories are made of.

Growth and Development are subjects that cover chapters and books. Growth guidelines vary from baby to baby and if a baby is nursed or formula fed. This will also addressed during each visit with your health care team. Babies are measured in percentiles of height and weight and are tracked to insure that your baby is thriving. As parents, it is important to share any pertinent information. Issues that are significant about baby’s birth, postpartum, health and biological history need to be shared in your visits with the midwife, pediatrician and dentist. Your child's growth will be monitored and development noted with each visit. Babies develop skills at different rates while falling into categories that allow them to be evaluated.

Call your health care provider, if you witness the following symptoms:

Fever over 100 (degrees) F

Difficulty breathing

Repeated vomiting

Persistent diarrhea

Blood in urine or stool

Disinterest in feeding/ baby is lethargic

High pitched crying inconsolability

Rash

Yellow/ orange skin or eyes

Unusual discharge from eyes, nose, ears, navel, genitals

A great book for every family with little ones is “Be Your Own Pediatrician” by Dr. Wooton. In it he suggests strongly not to break a child’s fever and let it burn at 100-103 *as it releases interferon and killer cells to attack the virus or bacteria causing the infection or child’s ailment.

The fact that you are starting a family your birth should be discussed openly. This is the way children learn positive sexual attitudes. One area where the experts agree is timing- the sooner the better age three to four seems to be the youngest age that a child can understand the concept of being born to a mother. It is suggested that the information be simple and positive. Children love to hear their birth story and will make you tell it over and over.

Here are a few suggestions about what to include:

How thrilled you were went you heard about your child.

Songs or poetry your family shared while waiting

What you thought about the first time you saw your child.

The celebrations your family shared after your child arrived.

The first day after your child comes home to join the family, create a book for your child with pictures of his birth and a story that told about your expectations and dreams and how he/she not only met but surpassed every one.

Thus the emotional climate surrounding the telling process is one which fosters acceptance and positive self-regard. Take care to provide your child with adequate information about his birth without talking about it constantly. Your child will give you cues when "enough is enough". They will let you know when they are at risk for overload.